Chiyo Miyako [Japanese: 都 千代] (2 May 1901 – 22 July 2018) was a validated Japanese supercentenarian who was the oldest living person in the world at the time of her death.

Biography

Miyako was born on 2 May 1901 in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Her husband, Shoji, worked for Japanese National Railways, which meant that she had the chance to travel. She enjoyed calligraphy, which she learned during her childhood and practiced well in to her old age. Her favourite foods were sushi and eel. She was described as a "chatty goddess" by her family.

Miyako was officially validated by the Gerontology Research Group on 3 August 2015. She became the oldest living person in Kanagawa following the death of 114 year-old Kiyoko Ishiguro on 5 December 2015, and the oldest person in Japan and the world following the death of Nabi Tajima on 21 April 2018. She was the last surviving validated person born in 1901.

Miyako died in Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture, on 22 July 2018 at the age of 117 years, 81 days. Her death came just as evidence of her applications for the title of oldest person living were approved by Guinness World Records. Following her death, Japanese woman Kane Tanaka became the world's oldest person.